Certificate of Proficiency in Survival Craft ( CPSC ) i took this course back in 97/98.Not all crew onboard have this course and the ones that do are holders of the Red Muster Card ( Special Parties Muster ).

The theory was made onboard on Five Deck Aft by the Portside Gangway Area ( thats the small lobby area before the gangways ).Practical lectures was done on Two Deck Aft plus going down with Lifeboats ( mostly with boats 1 or 2 ) in ports, and doing training in water like man overboard for example.My boat examanation was done in Lisbon.

Following is a more in depth what was done on the above subjects mentioned.

1. Introduction and Safety

Introduction

Safety guidance

*safety rules laid down for the course by the chief instructor *use of the orders "STILL" and "CARRY ON" and the actions to be taken on hearing them

2. Emergency Situation

Types of emergency

*emergencies which may lead to abandoning vessel, such as: fire collision stranding explosion adverse reaction of dangerous goods or hazardous bulk cargo shifting of cargo foundering *particular difficulties with regard to abandonment which may be encountered in the various types of emergency *in the case of fire, it may be prudent to launch or prepare to launch some or all survival craft immediately, for stand-by while firefighting continues

Emergency signals

*general emergency alarm signal *fire alarm signal *who would give the signal to abandon vessel and how the signal might be made *emergency signs and symbols

Muster list

*contents of a muster list *duties assigned to each member of the crew *person in charge of a survival craft must have a list of its crew * person in charge of the survival craft has duty to see that the crew under his command are acquainted with their duties *second in command must also have a list of the crew *muster list specifies substitutes for key persons who may become disabled *muster list specifies which officers are assigned to ensuring that lifesaving and fire appliances are maintained in good condition and are ready for immediate use

*need for regular training and drills *requirements for abandon vessel drills *requirements for on-board training and instruction in the use of the vessel's lifesaving appliances *need to be familiar with all of the vessel's lifesaving appliances *contents of training manual(s) *symbols related to lifesaving appliances and arrangements

Actions to be taken when called to survival craft stations

* personal preparation for abandoning vessel *person in command of each survival craft must check that all crew are present and that crew and passengers are suitably dressed and have correctly donned lifejackets *preparations which must be made for launching survival craft *boats must only be lowered to embarkation deck level on instructions from the master *persons assigned in the muster list must take emergency radio equipment, EPIRBs and other items to their stations

Actions to be taken when required to abandon vessel

*vessel must only be abandoned on the orders of the master or person in charge of the vessel *additional items which may be put into a lifeboat when time permits *supervising the process of boarding lifeboats *supervising the process of boarding davit-launched life rafts *method of boarding throw-over life rafts from the vessel *jumping onto inflatable life rafts *keeping dry when boarding survival craft *immersion suit or thermal protective aid must be worn if required *person in charge must ensure that all of the boat's crew are present and all occupants are seated, with safety belts fastened where appropriate, before lowering *check to ensure that hands and arms are clear of the boat's sides *when lifeboat engines must be started *water spray and air support systems must be set to operate and the closure of hatches must be checked if launching into oil on the surface * check that it is clear below before lowering a boat or throwing a raft overboard *what the person in charge must do

Actions to be taken when in the water

*never enter water without a lifejacket *anything buoyant will help a survivor in the water *a person in the water will cool and suffer from exposure very quickly, even in temperate areas, unless wearing an immersion suit *survivors in the water must swim to survival craft, buoyant wreckage or one another if within range, but otherwise avoid unnecessary exertion * lifejacket light and whistle as an aid to rescue *how to hold on to a boat or raft

*maintenance, storage and operation of immersion suit *unpacking and donning an immersion suit *while wearing an immersion suit and lifejacket: jump from a height into the water swim a short distance join or leave a group

Thermal protective aids

*unpack and don a thermal protective aid in a life raft/lifeboat *put a thermal protective aid on a person simulating unconsciousness in a life raft/lifeboat

Boarding a life raft from the water

* board a life raft from the water while wearing a lifejacket/immersion suit *assist an exhausted survivor to board a life raft *throw the rescue quoit and line to a person in the water

*hand and arm hoisting signals *information may be passed to the helicopter through shore-based radio stations or shipboard radio if suitable equipment is available

Evacuation from vessel and survival craft

*requirements for a helicopter pick-up area on board *importance of flood lighting obstructions such as masts and funnel at night *helicopter winch cable must never be secured to any part of the vessel *lifejackets must be worn during evacuation by helicopter *how to evacuate lifeboats and life rafts *precautions against helicopter down-draft overturning life raft *method of discharging static electricity *pilot’s instructions must be followed *need to prepare evacuation area *importance of attaching medical requirements and documents to injured person

Helicopter assistance

*methods of lifting people with a: sling basket net litter *an injured person must be transferred from the vessel's stretcher to the rescue litter provided by the helicopter *how a member of the helicopter crew may assist in picking up survivors *correct way to don a rescue sling when on deck or in water, and adopting a safe posture in the sling

*construction and fittings of the following lifeboats: open partially enclosed self-righting partially enclosed totally enclosed with a self-contained air support system fire-protected

*particular characteristics and facilities of each type of boat listed above*interpreting the markings on a lifeboat to determine the number of people it can carry, including numbering of lifeboats

Life rafts

*construction, particular characteristics and facilities of: inflatable life rafts rigid life rafts evacuation systems/platform *stowage of life rafts *interpreting the markings on a life raft container to determine the number of people it can carry and how to move it

Rescue boats

*construction, particular characteristics and facilities of rescue boats *requirements for survival craft and rescue boats on: passenger vessels cargo vessels *interpreting the markings on a rescue boat to determine the number of people it can carry

*life raft launching davits *operation of the release hooks *how the hook is recovered and made ready for launching another life raft

Free-fall lifeboat

*arrangements for free-fall launching over the stern *a gantry as an alternative method for launching and recovering the boat

Float-free arrangements

*working of a hydrostatic release unit for the life raft securing strap *sequence of events leading to the release of the fully inflated life raft in the case of a sinking vessel *on-board maintenance of hydrostatic release units

*check levels of fuel and lubricating oil *check that gear lever is in neutral *follow manufacturer's instructions and set controls *prime fuel system, if necessary *start engine and adjust fuel setting *check oil pressure gauge and water cooling, if applicable *operate ahead and astern propulsion *stop engine and turn off fuel *how to clean the fuel tank *quantity of fuel required for a lifeboat *use of block heaters, when fitted *how to start a cold outboard motor engine *manufacturer's specification for petrol/oil mixture must always be followed to avoid damage to the engine *manual/hydraulic/electric start

Cooling systems *description of the following cooling systems: air-cooled freshwater-cooled seawater-cooled *freshwater cooling systems require protection with antifreeze when in cold areas *engine must be capable of running with the lifeboat out of the water for a minimum of 5 minutes *outboard engines must never be started out of the water *outboard engines must never be positioned horizontally because cooling water may drain into them

Battery charging and block heater

*batteries for engine starting, searchlight and fixed radio installation can be charged from the engine *arrangements for charging batteries from the vessel’s power supplies

Water spray system

*fire-protected lifeboats are fitted with a water spray system which can be turned on or off *how to activate/engage a water spray system *spray is driven by a self-priming pump that starts as soon as the boat enters the water *system must be flushed with fresh water and completely drained after drills

Self-contained air support system

*all entrances and openings must be closed when using the self-contained air support system *system will keep air breathable and allow engine to run normally for at least 10 minutes *how to activate air supply system

*importance of checking that launching area is clear below before lowering survival craft *how boat painters must be set up before launching *use of bowsing-in for boarding and slacking off with tackles *how to bowse-in tackles *lowering the boat from the dock and from on board *unhooking of falls or operation of disengaging gear *difference between normal release and on-load release, and when each would be used *the difficulties which could arise if the vessel is still making headway and the boat is launched at more than 5 knots *launching of davit-launched life rafts *bowsing lines and painter must be passed into the life rafts before lowering, to ensure that they do not snag *release hooks for davit-launched life rafts *when to release the safety-catch on the hook, if fitted *when to unload lifeboat ladder *keep the lifelines clear *watch waves before launching *watch overboard discharges *wait for winch operator before leaving vessel

Clearing the vessel's side

*how to get clear of the vessel's side in a lifeboat: using the engine under oars *how the painter can be used to assist in clearing the vessel's side *how to clear the vessel's side in a life raft *hot to get away from the lee side of a vessel

Marshalling life rafts and rescuing survivors from the sea

*explains that motor lifeboats and rescue boats must be used to tow life rafts clear and pick up survivors in the water *describes how to pick up a survivor from the water *describes how to bring an injured or exhausted survivor aboard a lifeboat *states that anyone entering the water to assist a survivor must have a line attached

Actions to take when clear of the vessel

*boats and rafts must attempt to get about 100 m clear of the vessel *how survival craft should be secured together *use of sea anchors *immediate actions: inventory of survivors stream sea anchor turn on EPIRB erect canopy in boats issue anti-seasickness pills bail craft dry treat the injured inflate life raft floor in cold conditions get radio equipment ready post lookouts use daylight signalling mirror (heliograph) instruction and practice in the use of pyrotechnics secure to other survival craft and look for survivors in the water *need to ventilate a life raft after it has been inflated before closing the openings *instructions on how to survive are available aboard life rafts

*person in charge must do everything possible to maintain morale by displaying knowledge and leadership *organizing survivors to undertake tasks for their safety and comfort helps to maintain morale *importance of maintaining a constant lookout *instructions which must be given to the lookouts *other tasks which must be assigned to crew members *main dangers to survivors

Use of equipment

*normal equipment of a lifeboat *normal equipment of a life raft *use of each piece of equipment *stowage of the equipment *equipment not actually in use must be stowed in lockers or containers or lashed down so that it will not be lost in the event of a capsize *markings and use of a boat compass

Apportionment of food and water

*quantities of food and water carried in a: lifeboat life raft *how to ration and issue water and emergency food *dangers of drinking seawater *arrangements for collecting rain water and how to store it *eating fish or foods other than the survival craft rations increases dehydration *how to minimize dehydration in hot conditions *necessity of portable water in winter conditions

*1 act as an efficient member of a launching crew *2 take charge of and allocate duties for launching, handling and recovery *3 give correct orders for embarkation, launching and clearing the vessel's side *4 demonstrate the ability to row and to steer by compass *5 act as coxswain in handling a lifeboat under power and oars *6 stream a sea anchor

*1 how to reduce the risk of damage to a lifeboat or injury to occupants during lowering if the vessel is rolling heavily *2 use of oil to quell breaking seas along the vessel's side *3 how to lower a boat into heavy swell *4 how blocks may be lifted as soon as unhooked to prevent injury to occupants *5 use of the sea anchor and how to rig an oil bag *6 use of the steering oar when lying to a sea anchor *7 how to heave-to when running before the wind

Life Rafts

*1 difficulty getting clear of the lee side of a vessel in strong winds *2 launching position may be different from original location aboard *3 how to position survivors to minimize the danger of capsizing when lying to a sea anchor *4 precautions when lashing a life raft to other survival craft in rough weather *5 towing the raft into open sea for better visibility

Beaching

*1 types of beaches to be avoided if possible *2 beaching should be undertaken in daylight if possible *3 how to beach a boat under oars through surf *4 how to beach a boat under power *5 people must leave a boat over the stern to avoid being swept back to sea by the undertow *6 an effort must be made to save the boat and its gear *7 landing signals for the guidance of small boats with crews or persons in distress *8 how to beach a life raft *9 all gear must be secured and the entrances opened to allow rapid escape *10 raft must be carried clear of the beach to provide continuing shelter for survivors and visibility for search and rescue *11 problems associated with beaching and disembarking an enclosed boat

*1 the requirement for carrying EPIRBs in survival craft *2 Class II EPIRBs *3 Class II EPIRBs are capable only of manual activation and deactivation *4 apparatus will operate for a period of at least 48 hours *5 survival craft class II EPIRBs operate on the 406 MHz frequency *6 Class I EPIRBs operating on 406 MHz *7 test procedures *8 Class I EPIRB is automatically activated after floating free *9 manual activation and deactivation of the EPIRB *10 EPIRB will operate for a period of at least 48 hours *11 a satellite EPIRB transmits a distress message with a special identification code to a polar orbiting satellite for retransmission to special receiving stations *12 the inspection of EPIRBs and VHF radios is done in conjunction with the ship’s radio inspection *13 requirements for carrying search and rescue transponder (SART) *14 stowage requirements of search and rescue transponder (SART) *15 purpose, function and inspection standards for SARTs

*act as an efficient member of a launching crew *take charge of and allocate duties for launching *give correct orders for swinging out the raft, securing it and boarding *lower life raft *operate the safety catch of the lifting hook, if fitted, at the correct time *recover the hook and ready it for the next launch *clear away from vessel's side and stream a sea anchor